Improvement in telegraphic switch-boards



G. S. J ONES.

TELEGRAPHIO SWITGHBOARD.

No. 90,270. Patented May 18, 1869.

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Letters Patent No. 90,270, dated May 18, 1869 IMPROVEMENT IN TBLBG RAPHIC SWITCH-BOARDS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may U0lw67'n:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES b. J oxns, ofthc city and county of Albany, and State of New York, have invented a new and improved Electrical Switch for quickly and reliably turning the course ololi-ctrio currents; mull do hereby declare that the lbllowing is a full and exact description ofthc some, rclercncc being made to the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the switchstraps as united togetherwith their frame and connecting-screws, and

Figure 2 represents a. view of the plug which is employed to unite these straps together.

When many wires are used, each carrying a dillerent electric current, it is often desirable to change the course of these currents, by uniting a portion of one wire with another portion of another wire.

lt ishighly important, in telegraph-business,- to make these changes quickly and certainly, and to bring all the wires safely in a compact space.

In the most approved swltcheshitherto made, in some cases the-boards containing thedeviccs for-thisper-- pose are many feet in size, and are subject, therefore, to constant changes from heat and cold. These changes often cause failure in electric connection.

The object of my device is to ,obviate'thc dili'iculties arising from the old methods of construction, and for this purpose 1 make my apparatus as follows:-

I provide a woodenfi'alnc, a. a a a, made of four pieces of wood cut lengthwise, so that heat and cold will not perceptihly affect its shape and size.

Upon the top of this frame 1 place vertically three or more straps of brass, b b b, terminated zit-their one extremity with binding-screws 'for wire attachments. On the lower side of the fraune- I place, horizontally, three or more straps, also letting one end of each terminate with a binding-screw, which appeals on the right-hand side of the frame. These two scts of'st-raps, of course, cross each other at right angles, but are in dilTerent planes. Holes are drilled in both sets ol'straps so that a rod may pass through and connect each and every verticaluppcr strap with each and crcry horizontal lowe'r strap; but for security I lile out a recess in the holes of the upper straps, leaving the holes in the lower straps circular and snmller in size, for these reasons:

The pin or plug 1), has a handle and a metal rod ii -stoned to it, pointed at the cod; it also has a shoulder, e, and o. pin, f, projecting at right angles to the rod; also, a spiral spring, 3, fitting on the rod, which is turned down smaller to receive it, in order that the outside oi the spring may not have a larger diiunetcr than the upper purl ol' the rod.

The relations of these various parts are as follows:

The rod or plug,'when the pin f is inserted, is about the size of the holes in the upper straps. The pin f is of such a size as easily to pass through the recesses from those holes. The shoulder a prevent-s the plug from going in too far.

The spiral springis ot such asizc that it passes easily through the holes in theuppcrstraps, but not through those in the lower straps, but the lower pointed part of the ping does pass through those holes; hence, when theshoulderepresscsngainst thcnppcrstraps,thespring is compressed strongly between the inside of the lower strap and the shoulder of the metallic plug against which it rests, and towhicli itis solidly fastened. After the pin f passes through the recess, by turning the plug a little right or left, the pin slips under the strap and cannot escape.- Thus the plug is locked in its place until released by again turning it to let the pin slip back through the recess.

By these means I secure a switch which will not warp, which is most compact, and which makes contact by a spring which must rub against the connections in the act of locking, removing dust, and which, when once' placed, will remainfirm and sure-until released.

Electrical or telegraphic switches are used for malt: ing changes of wires'and instruments in an office, and for doing it rapidly and reliably.

To the best of my knowledge and belief, all switches heretofore have been composed of strips or wires or rods of brass or other metal, fast-enedtoa slab of wood, stone, iii-"other non-conducting material, but almost entirely of wood.

Experience has shown that the shrinking, swelling, and warping oi the wood upon which the strips, bars, or rods are fastened, m'nder the connections unreliable, the manipulation laborious, and often the whole apparatus useless.

Theuse of stone slabs or slabs of other nomconductmg material, although not obnoxious to the same objection, is in thcone'case too cnmbrous, and in the other too expcnsive,'.and in either seldom used.

To overcome this objection, and to make switches which will be comparatively unaifcc tcd'in all tempera turns,- not only holding their original shape, but allowlog connect-ions to be made which will be permanent and reliable, I lmvc'dcviscd'thc following form:

Strips of wood or'othcr non-conducting material, of the requisite size and length, upon two of which are fastened at each end, longitudiimlly, strips of metal, remescnting the line or other wires, as per ii". 1, the strips of wood being lettered A, and the metal strips B.

Upon two other strips of wood or other non-conducting material of like requisite size and length, are fastcncd,at each end, laterally, other metal stips, representing instrument or other wires, as pcnfigi 2, the strips of' wood being lettered A A, and the metal strips 3' ll Now, by joining the wooden strips of fig. 1 to the wooden strips of fig. 2, at their ends, so that they shall' assume the position of right angles, and bringing every longitudinal metal strip to cross every lateral metal strip, and every lateral metal strip to cross every longitudinal metal strip, the equivalent of a frame is formed, as per fig. 3, the wooden strips being lettered A AA, and the metal strips B B B; and the use of four or more strips of wood or other non-conducting substance,

in the place of slabs of wood or other material to sup-- port metal strips for the purpose aforesaid, so joined in the shape of a frame, as to bring the longitudinal metal-licstiips and the lateral metallic strips across each other for the purpose of making connections between them, is what I claim as my invention.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The improved switch-board, constructed of strips of metal and wood, arranged transversely to eaeliother, in the manner and for the purpose as set forth.

2. The upper and lower straps insulated from each other by the frame, combined with .the metallic plugpin and spring, by which any two straps are locked together, substantially as described.

' CHARLES S.'JONES.

Witnesses:

James H. Ross, HENRY V. SHELLEY. 

